Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security yesterday met with a team from Rwanda Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance to discuss the Bill concerning the agreement on tax avoidance signed between Rwanda and Morocco.
The agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion regarding income taxes between the two countries was signed in October last year.
The agreement is one of the 18 ideals that were signed between the two countries during a three-day state visit by the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, to Rwanda.
Appearing before the Committee, the Head of Audit and International Taxation at RRA, Raul Gasana, said that the agreement will help to further develop the economic and bilateral relationship between the two countries and enhance their cooperation in tax matters.
“As the country develops further, so does the need for bilateral and trade agreements with as many countries as possible. This agreement, for instance, caters for potential investors leaving one of the two countries to invest in the other to only be taxed in one country instead of both,” he said.
Gasana addressed the issue of local investors’ complaints about incentives given to foreign investors and accuse the government of not giving them incentives to get their businesses off the ground.
“We try to make it much easier for foreign investors to come over because Rwandans benefit from the jobs that they create and we need their taxes to build the nation and for that, we reduce their taxes a little bit. Similar incentives are extended to a Rwandan who decides to invest in Morocco,” he said.
MP Fortunee Nyiramadirida pointed out that though there was need to provide incentives, it was important to remember the local investor who is required to do business with a foreign investor on the same level ground.
MP John Ruku-Rwabyoma reminded the team of the need to tie loose ends if Rwandans are to benefit from such agreements.
